Firefox/Chrome: Disconnect has always been one of our favorite privacy protecting browser extensions. Now Disconnect is even faster, and speeds up the web by shutting down ad-trackers, social widgets, and other snooping elements before they load, resulting in faster load times and less bandwidth consumed.

In addition to keeping your data safe from third-party trackers, Disconnect also encrypts your traffic over Wi-Fi, and breaks up the types of tracking elements into categories so you can see which ones are specifically advertisers, which ones are necessary for the site you’re visiting, which ones are harmless analytics, and which ones are social (Facebook, Twitter, etc). This way you don’t just see a bunch of numbers and think everything’s bad—you get a little context. You can still block whatever you choose.

The other major change is that Disconnect has moved to a “pay what you want” model to try and raise a little money to continue development, and for non-profit organizations that champion internet privacy. Similar to a Humble Bundle, you can specify how much of your purchase goes to the developers and how much goes to charity. You can still download the app for free if you choose, but after installing, a new tab opens asking you to donate to the cause. Hit the link below to read more, or grab the extension.